Guideline-adherent therapy for stroke prevention in atrial fibrillation in different health care settings: Results from RAMSES study.

Objective: No studies have been conducted in Turkey to compare the quality of stroke prevention therapies provided in different healthcare settings in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). Therefore, we aimed to evaluate possible differences between secondary (SH) and tertiary hospital (TH) settings in the effectiveness of implementing AF treatment strategies.

Methods: Baseline characteristics of 6273 patients with non-valvular AF enrolled in the RAMSES (ReAl-life Multicentre Survey Evaluating Stroke Prevention Strategies in Turkey) study were compared.

Pain Perception in Phacoemulsification with Topical Anesthesia and Evaluation of Factors Related with Pain.

Objectives: Evaluation of pain during and after phacoemulsification with topical anesthesia in patients with senile cataract and investigation of factors related with pain.

Materials And Methods: Ninety-two adult patients scheduled for routine clear corneal phacoemulsification with topical anesthesia who had no previous cataract surgery in their fellow eyes were included in the study. Verbal pain scale and visual analog scale were used to measure pain intensity.

A prospective comparative study to assess the effect of maternal smoking at 37 weeks on Doppler flow velocity waveforms as well as foetal birth weight and placental weight.

Maternal smoking is known to have adverse effects on the foetus. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of maternal smoking during pregnancy on arterial blood flow velocities in the foetal-placental-maternal circulation, and the pathophysiological relationship with placental and foetal birth weight. A total of 148 singleton pregnancies in 59 smokers and 89 non-smoking controls were examined during the 37th week of gestation.

The evaluation of renal hemodynamics changes in Familial Mediterranean fever with color Doppler sonography.

Background: Renal resistive index (RRI) scanned through renal Doppler is a practical marker employed in measuring blood flow in renal and intrarenal arteries and in noninvasive evaluation of renal vascular resistance. We aimed to investigate the renal hemodynamic variations in patients with Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF).

Material And Methods: Seventy-nine FMF patients and 51 healthy subjects suitable for age and sex were included.

Predicting gestational diabetes mellitus during the first trimester using anthropometric measurements and HOMA-IR.

Purpose: To determine the predictability of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) during the first trimester using the degree of insulin resistance and anthropometric measurements and to assign the risk of developing GDM by weight gained during pregnancy (WGDP).

Methods: A total of 250 singleton pregnancies at 7-12 gestational weeks were studied. Body mass index (BMI), waist/hip ratio (WHR), quantitative insulin sensitivity check index (QUICKI), homeostasis model assessment-insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) scores and WGDP were determined.

The impact of the IL-1β, IL-1Ra, IL-2, IL-6 and IL-10 gene polymorphisms on the development of Behcet's disease and their association with the phenotype.

Background And Objective: This trial was designed to investigate the effects of the interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-1Ra, IL-2, IL-6, IL-10 gene polymorphisms on Behcet's disease (BD) occurrence and the association between the polymorphisms and the phenotype.

Materials And Method: The study population consisted of 71 patients and 70 age and gender-matched healthy subjects. Each of the participants had 2cc of blood withdrawn, which was placed into a whole blood tube, and the DNA was obtained using the NucleoSpin(®) Blood DNA Isolation kit.

Is there any correlation between levels of serum ostepontin, CEA, and FDG uptake in lung cancer patients with bone metastasis?

Objective: In this study, an evaluation was made of the relationship between the serum levels of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), osteopontin (OPN), and the semi-quantitative parameters of 18-fluoro-2-deoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography ((18)F-FDG PET/CT) in lung cancer patients with bone metastasis.

Material And Methods: The evaluation included 42 non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and 31 small cell lung cancer (SCLC) patients who were referred to our institution for staging by (18)F-FDG PET/CT. The biochemical parameters measured included CEA and OPN serum levels.

A surgeon's nightmare: Complications.

Objective: Our study aimed to determine the physically and psychologically most difficult complication resulting in chronic discomfort and occurring sensationally in the postoperative period of operations performed frequently in the daily surgical routine.

Material And Methods: We performed a survey among surgeons who participated in the 19(th) National Surgery Congress. The questions were related to the complications encountered in the frequent procedures performed in the daily general surgery routine and resulting in chronic life discomfort but which are not life threatening.

Assessment of atrial electromechanical delay and P-wave dispersion in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Objectives: Diabetes mellitus is an independent and strong risk factor for development of atrial fibrillation (AF). Electrophysiologic and electromechanical abnormalities are associated with a higher risk of AF. In this study we aimed to determine the correlation of atrial conduction abnormalities between the surface electrocardiographic and tissue Doppler echocardiographic measurements in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients.

Obsessive-compulsive disorder concurrent with Melkersson-Rosenthal Syndrome: a case report.

Objective: To describe a case of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) comorbid with Melkersson-Rosenthal Syndrome (MRS).

Methods: We present a case study of comorbid OCD and MRS in a 13-year-old girl.

Results: She admitted to doubt obsessions and a control compulsion.

Sertraline-induced periorbital purpura: a case report.

Objective: The incidence of mild to severe levels of spontaneous bleeding due to the usage of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) is relatively low. Although the exact mechanism is not known, it is thought that inhibition of the serotonin transporter together with a decrease in platelet serotonin could be responsible for the bleeding. Therefore, the use of SSRIs in conjunction with anti-aggregants may predispose to or exacerbate the risk of bleeding.

Treatment of hemorrhagic gastritis by Ankaferd blood stopper versus Omeprazole: experimental randomized rat models.

Background: Ankaferd blood stopper (ABS) is a herbal extract that enhances mucosal healing. It has therapeutic potential in the management of external hemorrhage and controlling gastrointestinal bleeding associated with various benign lesions refractory to conventional antihemorrhagic measures. The aim of this experimental study was to assess the effects of ABS on hemorrhagic lesions and compare them with omeprazole.

The relationship between visfatin, liver inflammation, and acute phase reactants in chronic viral hepatitis B.

Chronic viral hepatitis B (CHB) is an important cause of morbidity and mortality. Adipokine stimulation might play an important role in the pathogenesis of chronic inflammation. The aim of this study was to evaluate serum visfatin concentrations and the relationship between visfatin, fibrosis, liver inflammation, and acute phase reactants in CHB patients.

An epidemiological study to evaluate the use of vitamin K antagonists and new oral anticoagulants among non-valvular atrial fibrillation patients in Turkey- AFTER-2 study design.

Objectives: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is one of the most common causes of preventable ischemic stroke and is related to increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. There is a lack of data in Turkey on the use of new oral anticoagulants (NOACs), and time in therapeutic INR range (TTR) in vitamin K antagonist users and AF management modality. In this multi-center trial, we aimed to analyze, follow and evaluate the epidemiological data in non-valvular AF patients.

Self-declaration of diabetes and factors associated with having regular eye examinations among patients with type 2 diabetes in Turkey.

Purpose: To assess the awareness of diabetic retinopathy (DR), decided by self-declaration of diabetes, and the factors associated with having regular eye examinations among patients with type 2 diabetes in Turkey.

Methods: Between January and June 2014, 3322 adult patients attending an outpatient ophthalmology clinic were screened and 160 patients with type 2 diabetes with a known duration of at least 5 years were included. All patients were asked for their complaints and self-declaration of diabetes was noted.

Liver fatty acid-binding protein as a diagnostic marker for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.

Background And Aims: Liver fatty acid-binding protein (L-FABP) is a small cytoplasmic protein. The aim of the current study was to investigate L-FABP levels and to determine their diagnostic value for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).

Methods: We enrolled in this study 24 consecutive patients with NAFLD who were diagnosed with elevated transaminases and with steatosis by ultrasonograph.

Bupropion XL-induced motor and vocal tics.

Tics are stereotypical repetitive involuntary movements (motor tics) or sounds (vocal tics). Although the emergence of tics were reported in a few cases with the use of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, there was no case with bupropion extended-release (Bupropion XL). The current case report presents a male patient developing motor and vocal tics with the use of bupropion XL.

Arterial stiffness and carotid intima-media thickness in diabetic peripheral neuropathy.

Background: We investigated the relationship between peripheral neuropathy and parameters of arterial stiffness and carotid intima media thickness (CIMT) in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).

Material And Methods: The study included 161 patients (80 females and 81 males), 69 of whom had peripheral neuropathy. All patients underwent 24-h blood pressure monitoring, and arterial stiffness parameters were measured.

Thoracic periaortic adipose tissue in relation to cardiovascular risk in type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Objective: To evaluate thoracic periaortic adipose tissue (TAT) burden in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) in comparison with controls and in relation to cardiovascular risk factors.

Methods: A total of 93 patients with type 2 DM (mean (standard deviation; SD) age: 56.7 (11.

Increase in the risk of ST elevation myocardial infarction is associated with homocysteine level.

Background And Aims: The present study aimed to investigate the relationship between coagulation defects and ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) in patients without any known coronary artery risk factors and considered low risk according to the Framingham risk classification.

Methods: This study included 76 (73.6% male) STEMI patients without any known risk factors for coronary artery disease and 56 healthy controls (67.

Toxic effects of formaldehyde on the urinary system.

Formaldehyde is a chemical substance with a pungent odor that is highly soluble in water and occurs naturally in organisms. Formaldehyde, when taken into organisms, is metabolized into formic acid in the liver and erythrocytes and is then excreted, either with the urine and feces or via the respiratory system. Form-aldehyde is widely used in the industrial and medical fields, and employees in these sectors are frequently exposed to it.